Refrigerator



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. WILKINSON. REFRIGERATOR.

"No. 574,975. Patented Jan. l2, 1897.

Wiitmwoeo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \VILKINSON, OF CHARLESTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 'No. 574,975, dated January12, 1897.

Application filed December 19, 1895. Serial No. 572,658. (No model.)

To otZZ whom/1125 may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILKINsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Charleston, in the county of Tioga and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRefrigerators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerators and cold-storagesystems; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of myimproved refrigerator. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on theline 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4is a detail transverse section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to the drawings by letter, A designates the outerwalls or casing of the device, which is lined or filled with tarredpaper, sawdust, or similar material, so as to form a temperature-proofstructure. Within the outer casing are the inner walls 13, separatedfrom the outer walls, so as to leave a dead-air space 0 on each side andend of the refrigerator. Aslight distance within the inner walls Iarrange the side partitions D, which terminate a short distance abovethe floor or bottom of the device and a short distance below the bottomof the ice-chamber, and form with the inneravalls live-air spaces orducts E.

In the upper portion of the device I provide a tank or ice-chamber F,which entirely fills the top of the refrigerator and is provided with anescape or discharge tube G, extending through one of the end Walls ofthe refrigerator, the escaping flow being regulated by an adjustableslide or valve G in said tube. Within the tank or ice-chamber and on thesides of the same I provide the cold-air flues lI, extending from thesaid chamber into the live-air spaces on the sides of the device. Rising centrally through the ice-chamber is a flue I, which communicates withthe space below the ice-chamber and with the outer air through the topof the device. The top or cover J is hinged to the side of the deviceand is constructed with a dead-air space in the same manner as the sidesand is provided on its outer side with a slide-valve K, which extendsover the top of the flue I and may be adjusted so as to allow more orless of a flow from said flue, as will be readily understood.

The space below the ice-chamber is intended for the storage of meats,vegetables, &c., which it is desired to preserve. On the side Walls ofthe device I secure the longitudinal cleatsL, in which notches M areformed at suitableintervals. In the said notches I journal the rollersN, upon which the trays or platforms 0 are supported, said trays orplatforms consisting of a series of bars forming an open frame, so as topresent no obstacle to the free circulation of the cold currents.Suitable guides P are secured to the side walls of the device, so as toprevent lateral movement of the trays as they are being inserted into orremoved from the refrigerator.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the advantages of my improvedrefrigerator will be readily understood. It will be observed that thewalls of the device contain dead-air spaces and are also lined or filledwith some material which will not readily conduct heat, so that thearticles stored in the refrigerator will be effectually guarded againstthe heated outer air. The heated air within the provision-chamber risesthrough the central flue I and escapes from the end of the same abovethe top of the refrigerator, and the partial vacuum thus created isfilled by the cold air falling through the flues II and passing underthe lower edges of the partitions D and up through the perforated floorQ. A circulation of the air within the refrigerator is thus maintainedand the stagna tion of the air around the contents of theprovision-chamber is obviated. The partitions D, it will be noticed,provide for live-air spaces on the sides of the provisionchamber, andconsequently some of the cold air will pass over the edges of thepartitions into the said spaces. The cold air will thus be thoroughlydiffused.

Having thus described my invention, what through the ice-chamber buthaving no communication therewith, and cold-air flues passin g downwardfrom the ice-chamber into the space between the side partitions and theside 15 walls of the provision-chamber.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE XVILKINSON. \Vitnesses:

B. F. EDWARDs F. E. XVARNER.

